Fostering Sustainable Development through Eradication of Poverty by 2030 in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Eswatini

This study investigated sustainable development through poverty eradication in Eswatini, a small landlocked country in Southern Africa, where approximately 60% of the population lives below the poverty line. With the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline approaching and Goal 1 (No Poverty) remaining a critical challenge, this research sought to identify key factors contributing to poverty, examine their impacts on sustainable development, investigate effective reduction strategies, and develop a comprehensive framework for poverty eradication. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach underpinned by Interpretivism, the study collected data through semi-structured interviews with twenty participants comprising eight poverty alleviation programme officers and twelve individuals living in poverty, selected through purposive sampling. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed nine interconnected factors contributing to poverty: unemployment, high birthrate and teenage pregnancy, poor and expensive education, poor economy and high cost of living, poor governance, corruption, climate change, gender inequality, and poor resource utilisation. The study established that these factors interact in complex ways that compound disadvantage, particularly for women, rural communities, and youth. Poverty was found to significantly impede sustainable development across health, education, economic growth, gender equality, peace and security, and food security dimensions. Based on the empirical findings and grounded in the Basic Needs Approach and Modernization Theory, the study developed the Comprehensive Framework for Reducing Poverty and Promoting Sustainable Development (CFRPPSD), structured around four pillars: Economic Empowerment, Human Capital Development, Institutional Development, and Social Protection and Inclusion. The framework provides actionable guidance for coordinated poverty reduction efforts aligned with the SDGs. The study recommends that the Government of Eswatini adopt the framework, prioritising governance reform and anti-corruption measures as foundational interventions.

Poverty Eradication; Sustainable Development; SDGs; Eswatini; Basic Needs Approach; Modernization Theory; Framework Development

1. Aderounmu, B., Azuh, D., Onanuga, O., Oluwatomisin, O., Ebenezer, B., & Azuh, A. (2021). Poverty drivers and Nigeria's development: Implications for policy intervention. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2021.1927495 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Africa Economic Report. (2023). Economic report on Africa. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Barbosa, F. R. G. M., Noronha, M. de O., & Piffer, M. (2020). Qualitative approaches in poverty studies: A structured literature review. Research, Society and Development, 9(7). https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i7.4183 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Bazen, A., Barg, F., & Takeshita, J. (2021). Research techniques made simple: An introduction to qualitative research. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 141, 241-247. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Chiappero-Martinetti, E. (2014). Basic needs approach. In A. C. Michalos (Ed.), Encyclopedia of quality of life and well-being research. Springer. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. DeJonckheere, M., & Vaughn, L. M. (2019). Semistructured interviewing in primary care research: A balance of relationship and rigour. Family Medicine and Community Health, 7(2), e000057. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Francoise, U. (2023). Digital transformation for sustainable development in Eswatini. World Bank Group. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Goodpal. (2018). Basic needs approach to development. Developmentalist. Retrieved from https://developmentalist.org Kwakwa, V. (2024). Eswatini economic update. World Bank. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Neubauer, B. E., Witkop, C. T., & Varpio, L. (2019). How phenomenology can help us learn from the experiences of others. Perspectives on Medical Education, 8(2), 90-97. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 42(5), 533-544. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Perera, S. (2024). Modernization theory. Simply Sociology. https://simplysociology.com/modernization-theory.html [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Thakur, S. (2019). Modernization theory. Economics Discussion. Retrieved from [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. https://www.economicsdiscussion.net [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. UN. (2024). Sustainable Development Goal 1: No poverty. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. UN DESA. (2023). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023. United Nations. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. UN Women. (2024). Facts and figures: Economic empowerment. https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/economic-empowerment/facts-and-figures [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. UNDP. (2024). Sustainable Development Goals. United Nations Development Programme. https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. World Bank. (2023). Poverty and shared prosperity 2022: Correcting course. World Bank Group. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. World Bank. (2024). Eswatini overview. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/eswatini/overview [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• A Case Study on the Development and Simulation of a High-Efficiency Flyback Converter for Portable Solar LED Lighting
• Greening the Campus: Stakeholders’ Insights on Sustainability Practices in a Chinese Higher Education Institution
• Malaysia’s Renewable Energy and CO₂ Emissions: ARDL–ECM Evidence with Policy and Managerial Implications
• Waqf within Business Model Framework: A Review and Research Agenda
• Sustainability-Driven Green City Framework and its Impact on Malaysia’s Tourism Industry Development